1
THE FOUNDATIONS OF ROME
FROM CITY TO EMPIRE (PART I)
THE FOUNDATIONS OF ROME
Preview
PART I:
� Starting Points Map: Italy and the Mediterranean
� Roman Civilization Develops
� Quick Facts: Etruscan Influences
� The Conflict of the Orders
� Quick Facts: Checks and Balances in the Roman Government
PART II:
� The Republic Expands
� Faces of History: Two Commanders of the Punic Wars
� Rome’s Boogey Man: HANNIBAL
PART I
BIRTH OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
LEARNING GOALS
By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
� explain how Rome grew from a small town on the explain how Rome grew from a small town on the explain how Rome grew from a small town on the explain how Rome grew from a small town on the
banks of an Italian river, to control the entire banks of an Italian river, to control the entire banks of an Italian river, to control the entire banks of an Italian river, to control the entire
Mediterranean regionMediterranean regionMediterranean regionMediterranean region
� describe why Rome become a republic, and explain describe why Rome become a republic, and explain describe why Rome become a republic, and explain describe why Rome become a republic, and explain
how it functionedhow it functionedhow it functionedhow it functioned
THE REGION
“All roads lead to Rome.” “Rome was not built in a day.” “When in
Rome . . .”
How did Rome win such a place in modern popular culture?
• Peninsula logical place for
emergence of mighty empire
– juts south from Europe far into
Mediterranean Sea
– lies almost halfway between eastern, western boundaries
of the sea
– protected by mountains, sea
– rich soil, mild climate
Italy’s Geography
• legend: Romulus and Remus,
twin brothers raised by she-wolf;
founded city 753 BC
• members of Indo-European
tribe, Latins, reached Italy 1000s BC; built Rome
• city prospered partly from
location on Tiber River
• valuable trade routes, easy
access to sea
The Founding of Rome
ROMAN CIVILIZATION DEVELOPS
2
THE ETRUSCANS
�Rome first ruled by Latin KingsRome first ruled by Latin KingsRome first ruled by Latin KingsRome first ruled by Latin Kings
� came under Etruscan rule, 600 BC came under Etruscan rule, 600 BC came under Etruscan rule, 600 BC came under Etruscan rule, 600 BC
� Etruscans came from northern ItalyEtruscans came from northern ItalyEtruscans came from northern ItalyEtruscans came from northern Italy
� evidence found at cemeteries indicates Etruscans great metalworkers,
jewelers
� Etruscan culture heavily influenced by Greeks
� Etruscans had great influence on Roman societyEtruscans had great influence on Roman societyEtruscans had great influence on Roman societyEtruscans had great influence on Roman society
EXAMPLES OF ETRUSCAN INFLUENCE
Summarize
What advantages did Rome’s location give
the city?
Answer(s): protected by mountains; sea provided
protection and transportation; had rich soil,
pleasant climate; located on major trade routes;
Tiber River provided easy access to the sea
Etruscan Rule Ends
• Etruscans ruled Rome until about 509 BC
• Romans revolted, threw out last of kings, setup new type of government
• Republic—elected officials governed state – NEVER HAVE KINGS AGAIN!!!
Who were the ‘Plebeians’?
• from beginning, common people, plebeians, challenged patricians for power
• invaders threatened 494 BC; plebeians refused to fight until changes made
• patricians knew they would have no army, expanded plebeian rights
Who were the ‘Patricians’?
• aristocratic families – wealthy and powerful
• patrician families controlled all society—politics, religion, economics, military
• maintained power through patronage system
THE CONFLICT OF THE ORDERS
The Twelve Tables
• 450 BC, plebeians forced patricians to have all laws written down
• laws displayed in Roman Forum, central square, on 12 large bronze tablets
• because laws were posted, patrician judges could not make decisions based
on own opinions or secret laws
Plebeian Council
• after receiving new rights, plebeians formed own assembly, Plebeian Council, to oversee affairs and protect interests
• gained right to elect officials known as tribunes
• Tribunes’ job—protect against unjust treatment by patrician officials
• gained right to veto—ban laws that seemed harmful, unjust
RESOLVING CONFLICTS
• Senate: 300 members, advised elected officials, controlled public
finances, handled all foreign relations
• Popular assemblies: in these all
citizens voted on laws, elected officials…
• Magistrates: governed in name of
Senate and people, put laws into practice, acted as priests…
Elements of Government
• Patricians, plebeians worked out
practical constitution
• Consisted of three parts: Senate,
popular assemblies, magistrates
• Initially dominated by patricians; all state offices later open to both
patricians, plebeians
New Offices and Institutions
REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT
3
ASSEMBLY OF CENTURIES
ASSEMBLY OF TRIBES
CONCILLIUM PLEBIS
COMITIA TRIBUTA
CONSULS (2)
PRAETORS (8)
CENSORS (2)
AEDILES (4)
QUAESTORS (4)
SENATE (300)
POPULAR
ASSEMBLIES
EXECUTIVE
BRANCH/
MAGISTRATES
LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH
JUDICIAL
BRANCH DICTATORDICTATORDICTATORDICTATOR
ROMAN REPUBLICAN ROMAN REPUBLICAN ROMAN REPUBLICAN ROMAN REPUBLICAN
GOVERNMENT 509GOVERNMENT 509GOVERNMENT 509GOVERNMENT 509----31 BCE31 BCE31 BCE31 BCE
Consuls
• two appointed - held imperium
(full power) for 1 year term
• chief executives, army
commanders
• could veto (forbid) each other
Praetors
• primarily judges, could act for
consuls if consuls away at war
• after terms ended, given military
commands, appointed provisional governors
Censors
• recorded wealth, residence of
population (census)
• ‘policed’ the Senate, in charge
of public morality
Quaestors
• served as assistants to consuls
• oversaw the financial
administration of the republic
THE MAGISTRATES
REPUBLICAN CHECKS AND BALANCES
Draw Conclusions
Why do you think the Romans established a
republic?
Answer(s): possible answer—They wanted a
system of laws to keep peace within their
expanding empire.
PART II
THE REPUBLIC EXPANDS
LEARNING GOALS
By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
� explain how Rome became a world powerexplain how Rome became a world powerexplain how Rome became a world powerexplain how Rome became a world power
� describe Rome came to dominate the describe Rome came to dominate the describe Rome came to dominate the describe Rome came to dominate the
MediterraneanMediterraneanMediterraneanMediterranean
4
Growth
• As Rome’s government changed, the Roman population continued to grow
• Rome needed more land for expanding population
• Began to settle surplus population on land acquired by conquering neighbors
Roman Army
• Organized into units called legions (approx. 4500 - 6000 men), backbone of
which were centurions (commanders of 100 men units)
• Army highly disciplined, well-trained force, could fight in all types of terrain
Military Might
• Successful expansion not possible without powerful army
• All Roman men between ages 17 and 46 with minimum amount of property required to serve in army during times of war
ROME ORGANIZES
The Conquest of Sicily
• Once in control of Italy, Rome turned attention to Sicily, large island to south of Italian Peninsula
• In Sicily, Rome came into conflict with Carthage, powerful North African trading city
• Conflict grew into series of three wars
• Punic Wars raged for nearly 80 years
The Conquest of Italy
• 265 BC, Romans had defeated Etruscans and Greek cities in Southern Italy
• Romans imposed two strict conditions on subject people—subjects had to
provide troops for Roman army, abandon any dealings with foreign nations
• Other than those conditions, Rome rarely interfered with domestic affairs of
people it conquered
EXPANSION BEGINS
The Romans had defeated Carthage, but it did not destroy the city as
many citizens had wanted.
Violence between Rome and Carthage broke out in 264 BC. Because
the First Punic War was fought mostly at sea, Carthage’s powerful navy dominated the early fighting. Soon, however, the Romans built a navy
of their own and were able to defeat Carthage.
• Violence soon broke out again
• 218 BC, Carthaginian general
Hannibal led army across Pyrenees, Alps to invade Italy
• Hannibal ravaged Italy, defeated every army he faced
• Romans needed new strategy
Hannibal
• Romans decided to take war to Africa
• General Publius Cornelius Scipio sailed to Africa, besieged Carthage
• Forced Hannibal to sail home
• Scipio defeated Hannibal, took
Carthage, won Second Punic War
Scipio
THE PUNIC WARS
CARTAGO DELINDA ES!!!
Huge losses of Second Punic War remained in memories Huge losses of Second Punic War remained in memories Huge losses of Second Punic War remained in memories Huge losses of Second Punic War remained in memories
of many Romans…of many Romans…of many Romans…of many Romans…
�149 BC Rome decided to destroy old enemy once and for all149 BC Rome decided to destroy old enemy once and for all149 BC Rome decided to destroy old enemy once and for all149 BC Rome decided to destroy old enemy once and for all
� Declared war on Carthage for third timeDeclared war on Carthage for third timeDeclared war on Carthage for third timeDeclared war on Carthage for third time
� After siege of three years, Carthage fellAfter siege of three years, Carthage fellAfter siege of three years, Carthage fellAfter siege of three years, Carthage fell
� Romans enslaved entire population, completely destroyed cityRomans enslaved entire population, completely destroyed cityRomans enslaved entire population, completely destroyed cityRomans enslaved entire population, completely destroyed city
� They banned any people from living thereThey banned any people from living thereThey banned any people from living thereThey banned any people from living there
• Punic Wars raged in western republic; Rome involved in politics of
eastern Mediterranean
• Hellenistic kingdoms of Macedonia, Persia, and Egypt fought constantly; Greek city-states feared being conquered
• City-states sought alliance with Rome
• Romans, Greek allies fought, and defeated Macedonia, Persia
• Both became Roman provinces
• Eventually Romans annexed
Greece as province as well
• Romans adopted many elements of
Greek culture, particularly art
Macedonia, Persia
• Romans also borrowed ideas of religion from Greeks, adopted their
gods but changed the names
• Not all Romans happy with growing
Greek influence, thought Rome should remain purely Roman
• Influence continued for many years
Greek Culture
THE CONQUEST OF THE EAST
5
Consolidation:
How did Rome come to dominate the Mediterranean world?
Answer(s): by conquering its Mediterranean
neighbors, including Carthage and Greece
Top Related